If you speculate AIDS and cancers are the major cause of death, you are not scrutinizing satisfactorily. In the United States, every 33 seconds someone dies from heart disease and more than 385,000 lives are claimed annually due to coronary artery disease (CAD).
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a tiny catheter-based device that provides real-time, 3D imaging from inside the heart, coronary arteries and peripheral blood vessels. The new device could guide the surgeon throughout the surgery process and make it easier to clean patients’ clogged arteries by means of the device’s volumetric imaging even without the need of major surgery.
The device is a 1.4 millimeter silicon chip made with CMOS technology. It also incorporates Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) to provide three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and transmit intracardiac echography (ICE) images using 13 cables.
“Our device will allow doctors to see the whole volume that is in front of them within a blood vessel,” said F. Levent Degertekin, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
“This will give cardiologists the equivalent of a flashlight so they can see blockages ahead of them in occluded arteries. It has the potential for reducing the amount of surgery that must be done to clear these vessels”, he added.
The device is awaiting FDA approval. Imagine the change – the device will undoubtedly lower the deaths caused by cardiovascular disease.
[Image Credit: Georgia Tech]
Sparkonit brings you the latest of Science and Technology. Support me by adding on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks!
ScienceSwitch 
Reblogged this on Totally Inspired Mind… and commented:
I hope the scientists and researchers perfect this technique and device for cleaning clogged arteries and that leads to new frontiers in medicine and lengthening our life spans.
Paulette L Motzko
LikeLike
This is amazing – and it is one of those times I am grateful for advancements in technology – especially for things like this that can avoid major surgery (as noted in the comment section). 🙂
LikeLike
This is a fabulous invention, for the persons already suffuring from heart disease…and in a perfect world…heuuuu, may I dream;), the emphases should be put as much on prevention (healthy living, healthy food, exercise) as on diagnosis and treatment….
But ok, this will never happen…prevention is not making money.
Will be back often, your blog is passionnating!!
France
LikeLike
Weird science! I love this!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on 4t4m4t4.
LikeLike
Will that mean more old people, than ever. Fascinating technology.
LikeLike
Yeah, more times with the loved ones. Thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
Interesting.
Is the chip just a diagnostic tool or does it have any direct therapeutic effect too?
LikeLike
No, it cannot only diagnose where clog is present in an artery, but also using volumetric imagining it can also unclog the artery which otherwise would require a major surgery. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the information.
I would appreciate if you can explain how it unclogs the artery? Where can I get more information?
🙂
LikeLike
The device needs extra hands, it provides the cross-sectional images of the arteries and inside of the heart. It only makes the surgeons see where the clogged arteries are. It’s an alternative of the flashlight, but with this – no major surgery needed.
You can read more about it here: http://www.news.gatech.edu/2014/02/15/single-chip-device-provide-real-time-3-d-images-inside-heart-and-blood-vessels
LikeLike
The pill people will probably buy the patents and put it on the shelf.
LikeLike
Yeah, thanks! 😉
LikeLike
BRILLIANT! – we need much more R&D on developments like this. In Australia, our new “government” (pfuh!) doesn’t believe in science: there is no Minister for Science for the first time in memory. You can imagine how much attention, then, these (_¤_)s pay to R&D … 😦
LikeLike
Well, I guess there is not much you or I can do about it except to condemn it, but lets just put as much effort as we can to spread science and technology info ’cause ultimately, it’s science that’s gonna bring peace in the world. 🙂
LikeLike
Ain’t THAT the truth?! – it sure ain’t gonna be religion.
LikeLike
Yeah, it’s not gonna be religion. 😀
LikeLike
Endless good things these scientists do for us… Thank you, sparkonit!
LikeLike
Yeah, they do. Thanks for reading. 🙂
LikeLike
Amazing stuff – thanks for the technical info you so kindly provide, a great service.
LikeLike
Thank you for appreciating, it’s our duty to spread the knowledge we gather. 🙂
LikeLike
yes, exactly! WOW!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Thanks. 🙂
LikeLike
WOW!
LikeLike
Thanks. 🙂
LikeLike